Experience from Implementing Mutual Peer Reviews among

Czech Development Civil Society Organisations

Inka Píbilováinka@evaluace.com

IDEAS GA 2013

2

FoRS

•Czech Forum for Development Cooperation

•50 development CSOs involved in 60 countries

•Combined turnover is similar to the Czech official bilateral development cooperation

Code on Effectiveness *2011

http://www.cso-effectiveness.org/istanbul-principles,067?lang=enhttp://www.fors.cz/user_files/fors_code_on_effectiveness_en.pdf

1. Grassroots knowledge

2. Transparency and accountability

3. Partnership

4. Respect to human rights and gender equality

5. Accountability for impacts and their sustainability

How to support CSOs to be more effective?

Code on Effectiveness – Example:

Code on Effectiveness Annual SelfevaluationCzech CSO´s self-assessment 2011 - 2013

Strengths

Validate data in the field

Publish most information including contacts

Refuse corruption in fundraising

Mutual capacity building

Avoiding stereotypes

Not using pictures of extreme suffering for fundraising

Areas for Improvement

Publish strategic priorities online

Contribute to FoRS working groups

Publish funding / financial info

Sharing project docs, other projects

Impact indicators missing

Lack of participatory evaluations

Code on Effectiveness Annual SelfevaluationHow to make self-assessment more objective?

Books

Peer Reviews

Code on Effectiveness Annual SelfevaluationHow to develop CSOs´ capacities?

Conferences

Working GroupsDevelopment Coffee.org

Workshops

70%

20%

10%

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Peer Review – Strategic approach

ToR

FoRS Code of Effectiveness

Self-assessment

Interested Peers

Briefing

WG1

WG2

WG3

Final workshop

& report

Strategic Peer Review

9

Peer Review – Strategic approachStrategic Peer Review

„Peer Review reminded us what we forgot, it opened questions we did not ask ourselves and mapped different experiences that we may utilise. The

challenge was the low ownership through the organisation and commitment of the new management to implement suggested changes.“

10

Peer Review – Quick version

DWW

FoRS Code of Effectiveness

Self-assessment

Bilateral peer

review

Bilateral Mutual Peer Review

• Self-selected peer CSOs

• Trust to share mutually

• Following indicators of the Code on Effectiveness

• Constructive and appreciative

• Focus on improvements

• Respect for diversity

• Voluntary

Interested Peers

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Peer Review – Quick versionBenefits of Mutual Peer Review

• Perspective of other practicionaires

• Mutual learning

• Low costs

• Time flexibility

• Brings Codes / frameworks alive

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Peer Review – Quick versionMyths about Mutual Peer Reviews

• External evaluation or audit

• One-way feedback

• A peer from the same background

• Experts for low costs

• Losing know-how

• Peer Reviews will bring a positive change

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Peer Review – Quick versionKey Steps for CSOs to Implement Peer Reviews

1. Agree within the organisation why to do a Peer Review

2. Secure sufficient capacities and ownership

3. Choose a partner you trust

4. Be open to a different perspective and a change

5. Priritize and follow-up

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Peer Review – Quick versionHow platforms can help

1. Identify appropriate framework to guide Peer Reviews

2. Tailor Peer Reviews to local context

3. Pilot Peer Reviews

4. Connect potential peers and set the basic rules and expectations

5. Support them on their way

6. Evaluate the process and incorporate improvements

Thank you for your attention!

Inka Píbilová

inka@evaluace.com

www.fors.cz